Sustainable business is important in driving prosperity, innovation and investment in global property markets.
Martin J Brühl, new global president of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, says managing risk, in a world of historically low interest rates engineered by central banks, is a growing challenge.This is according to global president of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), Martin J Brühl, Fellow of RICS, speaking for the first time in his new role during his inaugural speech in London on 30 June 2015 as the 134th President of RICS.
The first continental European to take on the role, Brühl will focus on three key themes during his presidency.
As head of Investment Management International at Union Investment Real Estate, sustainable investment and risk management play strongly to his expertise.
He will also promote international standards, RICS Futures and diversity and inclusion.
The RICS Futures Report charts a strategic way forward for RICS and those in the built environment, in preparing to meet the challenges of the changing world, sector and profession in coming years.
He views sustainable investment as very important. “Our sector needs to unite and ensure sustainability is fully considered across the whole lifecycle. Responsible action needs to become ‘business as usual’ within global real estate markets.”
He also praised the leading role RICS has taken in a joint initiative with the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC). RICS and the UNGC have launched a new resource that targets companies in the land, construction and real estate sector to do business more responsibly.
Brühl went on to emphasise the growing importance of risk management. “RICS has an opportunity to lead thinking on the fiduciary duty of fund managers. Managing risk, in a world of historically low interest rates engineered by central banks, is a growing challenge.”
Brühl’s background is in property investment. At Union Investment Real Estate, he oversees all property transactions outside the Eurozone, notably in the United Kingdom, the Americas and in the Asia-Pacific world region.
Qualifying as a chartered surveyor in 1995, he began his career in valuation and capital markets advisory. He has held previous positions at international consultancy firms such as DTZ, Cushman and Wakefield, and Arthur Andersen.
He holds a banking diploma and a property degree from City University Business School in London and speaks German, English and French.
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